I often seek out experiences at Michelin-starred restaurants when traveling, and Chicago has its fair share of choices. I have dined several times at 3-star Alinea pre-pandemic, so I chose to book 2-star Oriole for this trip; it has perhaps the most buzz recently (ie, from Infatuation). Like Alinea, it's not just a meal, it's an experience, although less theatrical and perhaps more food-focused. Unassumingly located in a former warehouse on an alley, one enters the building via a small outdoor patio. There is a small reception area, part of which is a former freight elevator, where you are served a chilled tea. The elevator reminded me (and apparently other guests) of the Tower of Terror ride at Disney World's Hollywood Studios. The rear of the elevator opens up from the middle (as freight elevators do) and parties are individually escorted into the restaurant. Aside from a lounge area for waiting diners, there are 3 areas through which guests travel and take bites--the bar (3 bites), the open kitchen (one bite), and the dining room. We may have seen Executive Chef/owner Noah Sandoval, but he blended in with the entire kitchen team, which was not small. The menu consisted of 14 courses/bites which surely change often; you are given a copy of your particular menu at the end of the experience, including whichever beverage pairing you had, if any. I had the non-alcoholic beverage pairing, which mostly consisted of highly complex tea-based drinks. A server told me all staff members participate in creating these elixirs. Since the courses surely change, it seems silly to list them all. I will say the 3 bites we had at the bar were all with raw or barely touched seafood and had broths so delicious we were slurping from the serving vessels like they were teacups. The single bite served in the kitchen is perhaps the most memorable and unlikely to change with time. It's a Hudson Valley foie gras mousse served over toasted brioche and topped with blueberries--OMG! The courses in the dining room were all fabulous and multi-layered. My faves were probably the Matsutake custard, the Wagyu ribeye and the carrot cake. Overall a pricey but unique and enthralling experience.
ajs6890
Oriole is one of two restaurants in Chicago with 2 Michelin stars. Unfortunately, we can’t say it lived up to expectations. The experience feels like a multi-star Michelin restaurant in the sense that service is top notch, dishes are nicely presented and you walk through an old elevator that has been converted to what feels like a cute living room to enter the restaurant. The first couple of dishes are served at a bar-area before moving to one course served standing up in front of the open kitchen setting while the remaining courses are served at a conventional table (unless you’re lucky enough to get seated at one of two booths located in the open kitchen area). The most memorable dishes were the sushi-type courses we were served in the bar area to start our experience, but none of the dishes after that were particularly memorable from a taste perspective, which matters more than anything else to us. For the price, Oriole just didn’t live up to expectations. And don’t bother with the $165 non-alcoholic drink pairing. It was a complete waste of money.
ELI STERN
DIFFERENT RESTAURANT IN A POSITIVE WAY ,
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ashley Carswell
Exquisite service, food, and atmosphere. Very detail is attentive as you are guided around the dining space to explore the food at various destinations within the space. Would recommend: the non alcoholic tea pairing with food. Favorites: any of the fresh fish dishes and the turbot with dill sauce.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caviar, Kitchen Table
tm212
We have been to Alinea and Smyth, both of which are 3 star Michelin restaurants, and feel that Oriole was much better. We were wowed by almost every bite. The service was excellent. They allowed us to do different levels of wine paring at the same table which the others do not. Of these three, we would definitely go back to Oriole!
Alex Marr
Amazing service and food. They made me feel so welcome as a lone diner and I enjoyed every minute I was there, especially getting to see the chefs at work. I just which I had a second stomach to be able to eat even more of their fantastic food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lucas Rebers
We rented the private dining room for our wedding dinner and it was as close to a perfect experience as it can get! Planning the event was made easy by the excellent events team. They were in constant communication and ensured that every detail was accounted for. From the moment we walked in on our wedding day everything felt special. The staff were incredibly attentive, kind, and helpful. As you would expect the food and the wine pairings were divine. The atmosphere really wowed all of our guests. But truly what sets this place apart is the attention to detail in making us feel welcome and special in this space. From leaving us with the wine corks of each pairing to taking a photo of me and my wife in the kitchen at the end of the night, we felt Oriole lived up to its incredibly high expectations. This will always be a favorite in our hearts.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Richard Romero
Incredible
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
McKenzie Kuhn
Jake #1, Jake #2, Jake #3 and Mary (and the chef at the bar preparing the fish!!!) are all awesome. The food and atmosphere were phenomenal, but we had the most fun getting to know the staff during our evening- thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
M G
Truly an outstanding restaurant. Worthy of its Michelin star recognition my eyes. The atmosphere, service and Vibe of the entire restaurant was outstanding. We were lucky enough to sit in the kitchen table to see the whole meal being prepared and it was truly an intimate and magical experience.
The tasting menu is executed with precision, showcasing seasonal ingredients transformed into imaginative dishes that balance innovation with harmony. Each course feels thoughtfully crafted, with flavors that flow seamlessly from one to the next. The wine pairings are equally impressive, enhancing and elevating the experience without overpowering the food.
Service is attentive and polished while still warm and approachable, striking that ideal balance where you feel genuinely cared for without any stiffness. Every detail, from presentation to pacing, is carefully considered, making the evening feel effortless.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ceciletravelinfo
Flawless service and polished plates that glide from delicate to decadent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
sandrinec856
Very nice place, decorated with tasteful bcp, very immersive in the chicago that reminds us of the fetish movies of our childhood. The dishes are mostly sublime, the tuna is beautiful, the cod is truly wonderful and the pork is an amazing experience. The staff is extremely welcoming, competent, caring, understands our desires to see ahead of them. Only downside, the chef who didn't greet us all meal. We had taken the immersive experience in the kitchen, close to the kitchen and close to the chef. The chief stayed very far from us, not a word. Even in a 1 star restaurant the chef is present. Big bad rating. Meal reserved for my fiancé’s 50th birthday, very disappointed by the lack of attention and involvement of the chef. We were told that he was very close to his customers but that is not true. Maybe a day without for him..., unfortunately not allowed in a restaurant of this standing. Too bad it ruined the experience I had hesitated with Alinéa , the choice was made on proximity to the chef , in the end I wonder if I did well... Disappointed and sad. I offered my fiancé a unique experience including an exchange with a starred chef and we did not have it. 1400 dollars to 2 it costs dear the unfinished experience. Nevertheless thank you to the attentive and involved staff, the chef will at least have succeeded
andro
The tasting menu moved seamlessly from delicate seafood courses to a rich wagyu beef plate, each dish layered with detail but never heavy. Service stayed precise yet welcoming, and the intimate room gave the evening a calm, refined rhythm.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alon Juwal
Really nice dining experience and superb service! We came with very high expectations and the level of service definitely did not fall short! The food however was a hit and miss and a bit underwhelming, perhaps past menus were a bit better judging by the pictures. Overall a great experience, but not wow.
I often seek out experiences at Michelin-starred restaurants when traveling, and Chicago has its fair share of choices. I have dined several times at 3-star Alinea pre-pandemic, so I chose to book 2-star Oriole for this trip; it has perhaps the most buzz recently (ie, from Infatuation). Like Alinea, it's not just a meal, it's an experience, although less theatrical and perhaps more food-focused. Unassumingly located in a former warehouse on an alley, one enters the building via a small outdoor patio. There is a small reception area, part of which is a former freight elevator, where you are served a chilled tea. The elevator reminded me (and apparently other guests) of the Tower of Terror ride at Disney World's Hollywood Studios. The rear of the elevator opens up from the middle (as freight elevators do) and parties are individually escorted into the restaurant. Aside from a lounge area for waiting diners, there are 3 areas through which guests travel and take bites--the bar (3 bites), the open kitchen (one bite), and the dining room. We may have seen Executive Chef/owner Noah Sandoval, but he blended in with the entire kitchen team, which was not small. The menu consisted of 14 courses/bites which surely change often; you are given a copy of your particular menu at the end of the experience, including whichever beverage pairing you had, if any. I had the non-alcoholic beverage pairing, which mostly consisted of highly complex tea-based drinks. A server told me all staff members participate in creating these elixirs. Since the courses surely change, it seems silly to list them all. I will say the 3 bites we had at the bar were all with raw or barely touched seafood and had broths so delicious we were slurping from the serving vessels like they were teacups. The single bite served in the kitchen is perhaps the most memorable and unlikely to change with time. It's a Hudson Valley foie gras mousse served over toasted brioche and topped with blueberries--OMG! The courses in the dining room were all fabulous and multi-layered. My faves were probably the Matsutake custard, the Wagyu ribeye and the carrot cake. Overall a pricey but unique and enthralling experience.
Oriole is one of two restaurants in Chicago with 2 Michelin stars. Unfortunately, we can’t say it lived up to expectations. The experience feels like a multi-star Michelin restaurant in the sense that service is top notch, dishes are nicely presented and you walk through an old elevator that has been converted to what feels like a cute living room to enter the restaurant. The first couple of dishes are served at a bar-area before moving to one course served standing up in front of the open kitchen setting while the remaining courses are served at a conventional table (unless you’re lucky enough to get seated at one of two booths located in the open kitchen area). The most memorable dishes were the sushi-type courses we were served in the bar area to start our experience, but none of the dishes after that were particularly memorable from a taste perspective, which matters more than anything else to us. For the price, Oriole just didn’t live up to expectations. And don’t bother with the $165 non-alcoholic drink pairing. It was a complete waste of money.
DIFFERENT RESTAURANT IN A POSITIVE WAY ,
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Exquisite service, food, and atmosphere. Very detail is attentive as you are guided around the dining space to explore the food at various destinations within the space. Would recommend: the non alcoholic tea pairing with food. Favorites: any of the fresh fish dishes and the turbot with dill sauce.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caviar, Kitchen Table
We have been to Alinea and Smyth, both of which are 3 star Michelin restaurants, and feel that Oriole was much better. We were wowed by almost every bite. The service was excellent. They allowed us to do different levels of wine paring at the same table which the others do not. Of these three, we would definitely go back to Oriole!
Amazing service and food. They made me feel so welcome as a lone diner and I enjoyed every minute I was there, especially getting to see the chefs at work. I just which I had a second stomach to be able to eat even more of their fantastic food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We rented the private dining room for our wedding dinner and it was as close to a perfect experience as it can get! Planning the event was made easy by the excellent events team. They were in constant communication and ensured that every detail was accounted for. From the moment we walked in on our wedding day everything felt special. The staff were incredibly attentive, kind, and helpful. As you would expect the food and the wine pairings were divine. The atmosphere really wowed all of our guests. But truly what sets this place apart is the attention to detail in making us feel welcome and special in this space. From leaving us with the wine corks of each pairing to taking a photo of me and my wife in the kitchen at the end of the night, we felt Oriole lived up to its incredibly high expectations. This will always be a favorite in our hearts.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Incredible
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jake #1, Jake #2, Jake #3 and Mary (and the chef at the bar preparing the fish!!!) are all awesome. The food and atmosphere were phenomenal, but we had the most fun getting to know the staff during our evening- thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Truly an outstanding restaurant. Worthy of its Michelin star recognition my eyes. The atmosphere, service and Vibe of the entire restaurant was outstanding. We were lucky enough to sit in the kitchen table to see the whole meal being prepared and it was truly an intimate and magical experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The tasting menu is executed with precision, showcasing seasonal ingredients transformed into imaginative dishes that balance innovation with harmony. Each course feels thoughtfully crafted, with flavors that flow seamlessly from one to the next. The wine pairings are equally impressive, enhancing and elevating the experience without overpowering the food.
Service is attentive and polished while still warm and approachable, striking that ideal balance where you feel genuinely cared for without any stiffness. Every detail, from presentation to pacing, is carefully considered, making the evening feel effortless.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Flawless service and polished plates that glide from delicate to decadent.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very nice place, decorated with tasteful bcp, very immersive in the chicago that reminds us of the fetish movies of our childhood. The dishes are mostly sublime, the tuna is beautiful, the cod is truly wonderful and the pork is an amazing experience. The staff is extremely welcoming, competent, caring, understands our desires to see ahead of them. Only downside, the chef who didn't greet us all meal. We had taken the immersive experience in the kitchen, close to the kitchen and close to the chef. The chief stayed very far from us, not a word. Even in a 1 star restaurant the chef is present. Big bad rating. Meal reserved for my fiancé’s 50th birthday, very disappointed by the lack of attention and involvement of the chef. We were told that he was very close to his customers but that is not true. Maybe a day without for him..., unfortunately not allowed in a restaurant of this standing. Too bad it ruined the experience I had hesitated with Alinéa , the choice was made on proximity to the chef , in the end I wonder if I did well... Disappointed and sad. I offered my fiancé a unique experience including an exchange with a starred chef and we did not have it. 1400 dollars to 2 it costs dear the unfinished experience. Nevertheless thank you to the attentive and involved staff, the chef will at least have succeeded
The tasting menu moved seamlessly from delicate seafood courses to a rich wagyu beef plate, each dish layered with detail but never heavy. Service stayed precise yet welcoming, and the intimate room gave the evening a calm, refined rhythm.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Really nice dining experience and superb service! We came with very high expectations and the level of service definitely did not fall short! The food however was a hit and miss and a bit underwhelming, perhaps past menus were a bit better judging by the pictures. Overall a great experience, but not wow.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
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